Tag Archives: Metal Roofs

A new study by the authoritative Freedonia Group projects a rebound in reroofing projects this year through 2019, largely due to home and building owners doing previously delayed renovations due to the economic downturn from 2009 to 2014. Continue reading →

Before the turn of the 20th Century, standing seam metal roofing material was measured, cut, roll formed and installed onsite by artisans used to working with a variety of different metals including copper, terne-coated metal and tin-coated steel. The hand crafted, custom made work of artisans gave way to mechanized production during World War II when factory “roll forming” technology was invented. This approach was the first departure from a one-at-a-time manufacturing mentality. Progressive roll tooling in a factory could produce a finished profile in a continuous process rather than step-by-step cutting and bending. Continue reading →

Metal roofs have long been popular with architects for their aesthetics and long-term performance characteristics, particularly their low maintenance costs and durability.

But now with the concept of sustainability so widely embraced by the architectural community, metal roofs are being seen in a new light. Their long life, high recycled content, total recyclability and energy efficiency allow “cool metal roofs” to play a pivotal and important role in creating the very condition under which “humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.” Metal roofing products last longer than conventional roofing products and are 100 percent recyclable. In contrast to conventional roofing products, there’s no need to replace product that needs large amounts of petroleum to make it and large areas of landfill to get rid of it. Continue reading →

This month marks three years since the widely destructive Hurricane Sandy devastated large areas of the coastal Northeast, a Category 2 storm officially recorded as the largest Atlantic hurricane on record with estimates as of 2015 assessed damage to have been about $75 billion.

Sandy delivered winds up to 90 mph and produced extensive property damage. Property owners along the Atlantic coastline are still recovering from the massive storm. Continue reading →

A recent survey of metal roofing and gutter contractors conducted by Englert revealed how they handle downturns in the building and construction market.

A lot of contractors merely hunker down and weather the plunging market. But a good number said they use a downturn to change the way they did business.

The most prominent response? Many contractors investigate adding new lines of business and additional geographic markets to make up for the lost business. Others restructure their businesses including calculated downsizing, sophisticated telephone and online sales canvassing and better installation scheduling practices.

Said one Connecticut remodeler who installs roofing and gutters: “In the flush times we were spending money with little regard for how we controlled our business. The downturn made us put on the brakes, take a hard look and make substantive changes in sales, installation and service. We became much more efficient and in the end we offered better quality and service.”

You’ll be surprised to learn that a metal roof is, on average, 50% lighter than an asphalt shingle roof, and 75% lighter than concrete tile, fiber cement shakes and slate. With metal roofing, weight on a structure is never an issue. And in cases where metal may be installed over an existing roof, it may be the only practical answer because other materials may add too much weight load for the existing roof to bear. Continue reading →

We’ll probably never see the bright colors of homes along Italy’s sunny Amalfi Coast coming to America. Nor will we ever enter the worlds of sunshine and vivid color found in many homes as near to us as the Caribbean Islands or as far away as Lebanon and Tel Aviv. But, even with plenty of exterior home colors to choose from or to custom create ourselves, when it comes to painting the house structure or choosing a standard or custom color for a metal roof, most American homeowners tend to keep it simple.

Very little has changed since the last time we surveyed what colors our customers were choosing when they installed one of our standing seam metal roofs. Same with the big American paint companies whose customers are just now applying the 2015 exterior house paint colors recommended this year.

The fact of the matter is American color choices are pretty dull. Light, warm grays, honeyed yellow and a muted orange here and there are about as exciting as it gets on home exteriors. In the Southwest, an occasional terra cotta roof pops up—but that’s it. And in the American South in places like Florida where you thought you might see a hint of color, the big paint pushers talk of sun-washed tones mixed with avocado greens and dark blues. Continue reading →

When metal roofing manufacturers first introduced aluminum material for standing seam roofing, much of the aluminum produced was .032 thickness.

However, over the years the building products industry has been gravitating to thicker roofing and trim material, especially in aluminum. And, Dade County Florida enacted new wind uplift rules for metal roofing that required the use of .040 aluminum for roofs and .050 thickness for trim material to meet the rule requirements.

Consequently, contractors were transitioning from the use of .018 to .024 thick Galvalume or Hot Dipped Galvanized steel roofing and trim products to .032 to .050 thick Aluminum. Many contractors assumed aluminum bent the same as steel and therefore thought little adjustment was needed to make crisp bends on aluminum as they had done with steel. This resulted in some contractors bending these heavier aluminum products beyond their tensile strength limits resulting in cracking of the metal and paint as well as leaving a silver look from the crazed aluminum under the paint. Continue reading →

New industry research shows that metal roof systems can last at least 60 years, longer than the average commercial building’s service life.

“The study provides third-party, scientific data that backs up the long held belief that 55% aluminum zinc coated steel standing seam roofing systems offer economic longevity and can be better for the environment.

Non-metal roofing systems require one or more full replacements within a typical commercial building’s 60-year service life, which is more expensive over the long run and usually adds to the solid waste stream in landfills.

The study, sponsored by the Metal Construction Association and the Zinc Aluminum Coaters Association, was conducted with oversight of three independent consulting firms which analyzed low-slope, unpainted 55% Aluminum-Zinc coated steel standing seam roofing, in a wide range of environments across the U.S.

The material tested is commercially known as Galvalume and Zincalume and is commonly used on low rise commercial buildings such as warehouses, schools, distribution centers, shopping centers, government structures, sports and exposition facilities and other structures. Continue reading →

Not all metal roofing contractors are alike. Some are big, national companies with the ability to coordinate and staff a wide range of residential and commercial projects. Others are small family-owned companies with a couple of full-time people who hire part time workers depending on the size of the job. Regardless of the size, you want a company where the professionals will deliver a quality metal roof system at an honest price. Here are some questions you can ask and some guidelines you can follow to help you make that choice:

1. Make sure the metal roofing contractor licensed. Many states require a roofer be licensed in the state; however, all states are different. Check the code requirements in your area. And be sure the roofer’s license is up to date. Continue reading →